Thursday, February 23, 2017

Pet Products That I'm Currently Obsessed With

As professional pet sitters, we are in close communication with other pet professionals - veterinarians, trainers/behavioralists, pet supply store owners, groomers, etc. Through these relationships, we are always learning about new products for our furry friends. I'd like to take this time to share with you some of the items that I am raving about (and, I'll even tell you where to get them!).

Here you see Parker rocking his Paws and Bone belly band

Belly Bands(bellybands.net): As most of you know, I have two dogs: Parker and Jackson. Parker has a terrible habit...he pees in the house. Yeah, yeah, I should have fixed this when we rescued him from the streets at the approximate and ripe age of 10, but I haven't. Not because of lack of trying - we have really tried everything and can't break the habit. Anywho, I had to find a way to deal with this issue and immediately thought, "diapers!" I headed to my local big name pet supply store and picked one up and brought it home. I put it on Parker and he looked at me like, "Bitch, you serious right now? I look ridiculous." Not to mention, his penis was hanging out of the front of it. So, back to the store I go to get another size...get home...same thing...wang all hanging out and it was just bulky and uncomfortable. Then I took to the internet and found bellybands.net. Ah-ma-zing! Not only are they custom fitted for your dog (they have male and female), but they come in several patterns so that your pup will look dapper in his/her diaper!

Kongs: This is an oldie but goodie. You know these things...usually red, look like bee hives and they are hollow. They are much more than a MOSTLY indestructible (I say "mostly" because I have known some dogs to completely destroy a Kong) chew toy. They come in different sizes and chew levels and the Kong peeps have cleverly come out with treats to put inside of them to keep your pup(s) busy...brilliant, I say! But here's a tip...in addition to the items that the Kong company sells to put inside, there are other yummy and healthier items to fill them with: peanut butter (PLEASE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT CONTAIN XYLITOL!!!), unflavored yogurt, canned/purred pumpkin, soft dog food, apple sauce (again, make sure it's all natural and does not contain Xylitol), veggies (green beans, broccoli, carrots, etc.). And are you ready for this??? Hold on to your butts, folks - fill these Kongs and put them in the freezer!!! This will make them last longer and will keep your dog(s) busy!

The patty formula alsocomes in nugget form!

Primal Pet Foods, Inc. (primalpetfoods.com): If I could scream my favorite product from the roof tops, it would be Primal's Turkey & Sardine raw patties. Gross? Yes. A little pricey? Yes. But here's the deal-i-o, the higher quality food you feed your animals, the less they will eat and the less they will eliminate. It's true! Parker is picky and when I put this raw slab o' meat down in front of him, I am pretty sure I heard, "Ummmm, you gonna cook this?" So, he's not a fan and eats another brand of food. So, like humans, not all dogs are going to like this. However, my Jackson laps this up like a boss. It has helped him slim down to his current svelte self (he's fighting off the ladies), he basically poops tiny nuggets (so tiny that I sometimes don't even pick them up because they get lost in the grass) because his body is absorbing all of the healthy goodness that's inside these patties. It has given him a luxurious coat and tons of energy. A raw diet for your dogs and cats is, by far, the absolute best and making it yourself is messy and can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing as far as supplements go. So, leave it to the pros and go PRIMAL! I encourage you to check out this company and it's products by visiting their website. When you realize that they rock, go pick up your Primal products at Gracies of Winter Garden (graciesofwintergarden.com).

Glycoflex Plus (glycoflex.com): Keeping the nutrition theme going, THIS! Jackson, my special Puggle, tore his cruciate ligament jumping off the couch. The cruciate ligament is like the dog equivalent of a human ACL. He was gimping around for a few weeks and we thought he was going to have to have surgery to the tune of $2,000. Ugh! But, miraculously, with rest and anti-inflammatory meds, he is just about 100% healed. Since both of my pups are getting up in age, their veterinarian recommended a Glucosamine supplement. Off to Gracie's I went and Kim (the owner) recommended Glycoflex Plus. It contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (this is short for a VERY long name, but is an organic sulfur that contains a compound that is known for it's join health benefits), and other antioxidants. It's a yummy treat so your dogs will enjoy taking it and it "helps cushion joints, promote cartilage building and alleviate discomfort caused by normal daily activities." This product is perfect for dogs of all ages! Check it out!

Catit Flower Fountain (catit.com): A while back, I wrote a blog about how important water is to cats and their kidney function. In an effort to encourage my six kitties to drink more water, I purchased two different water fountains. For some reason, cats are drawn to the sound of running or flowing water and it encourages them to drink. The first fountain I got was a bit expensive, but a few of my clients had the same one so I thought I would give it a whirl. After about three weeks, the fountain part (where the water flows from the top to get the desired "trickle" sound) started to fail. I asked others who had the same fountain if they experienced this problem and ALL of them said they did. So I set out to search for another fountain for my mittens and ran across this adorable thing. I mean, first off, it's the cutest fountain I've ever seen. Secondly, it's plastic and not heavy. It has a deep reservoir for the water and, my favorite thing about it is that it doesn't have a bunch of parts like the other one, which makes cleaning a breeze! My kitties love this little gem and I highly recommend it. I got mine from Amazon.com.

So, there you have it, folks! My favorite products du jour. I'm sure I'll run across some other helpful and fun items soon and will report on them when I do!